Friday July 27th, Above Bosley Locks - Bridge 86, near Kent Green

Once again we set off bright and early in the hope we could get down Bosley Locks before the sun’s heat got too strong. Alas, the best laid plans of mice and men!

Arriving at the top lock, we initially moved into the tiny arm (which acts as the final outlet from Bosley Reservoir, feeding water into the canal) to empty the loo and get rid of the rubbish – we don’t fill up with water here as the first time we did so, it tasted foul.

Waiting for the tape to be cut, Bosley Top Lock

However, whilst entering the arm we saw red tape across the head of the lock with the orange notice cards stating “Beware – Do Not Use. C&RT aware”. Of what, we asked ourselves.

Having done our household jobs we reversed back and tied up on the lock landing, and I went down to the second lock where we could see the boys in blue working. It transpired that there was a problem with a ground paddle and they had started early to avoid holding anyone up. They evidently didn’t reckon with the Ingleby’s early start!

At least we heard the local parish church bells ring just after 8.00 – something to do with some sporting event taking place in London?

After a wait of some 40-45 minutes the boys in blue appeared, cleared the tape and announced that the paddle was fixed, and so we set off to negotiate what is arguably the prettiest flight of locks in the country.

Today’s journey of just 8 miles was dominated by two hills. Not spectacularly high hills, either of them, but The Cloud dominates the landscape around Congleton, and Mow Cop does likewise further west nearer the northern end of the Potteries. Both are well over 1000’ high and dominate the landscape for miles around.

The Cloud

Leaving Bosley Bottom Lock

Bosley locks reveal The Cloud from various angles and it is never anything other than lovely – except for when it is covered in mist. Fortunately today, it was mostly bright & sunny. The flight starts out in the open and ends up deep in bosky woodland and the locks are grouped together in clusters – except for the top lock which is some way from the second.

We had a marvellous run down. The hold up with the paddle had also held two boats climbing up from the bottom so we were able to leave gates open for them, and they did likewise for us. With the top lock also virtually full, we had a great start.

Our luck continued with more boats being met lower down the flight and apart from the top lock and one other, both of which just needed a couple of inches to top them off, at every lock I could just open the gates for Elaine to bring the boat in.

The surroundings are delightful; especially as the towpath vegetation contractors were busy with their mower and strimmer. There are good views all around and only one road crossing – the A54 – interrupts the serenity.

Canal Aqueduct from the River Dane

At the bottom, the canal makes a sharp right hand bend to enter the last lock in glorious surroundings.  Immediately below the lock is a line of what we consider the best visitor moorings anywhere on the network – The Cloud dominates the view to the south while the other side drops away dramatically to the valley of the River Dane. A disused railway crosses the canal just above the bottom lock and makes a flat walkway before joining the main Stoke – Stockport line as that emerges from the long, high and dramatic viaduct that carries it across the valley. The canal, not to be outdone also flies across the valley on its own aqueduct. It is an idyllic spot to moor. We were tempted, but it was a bit early to stop at 10.10 in the morning!

From here on the canal winds its way around The Cloud as it almost boxes the compass to reach Congleton, with a series of long straights, cuttings, embankments and aqueducts demonstrating the canal’s late construction (it opened in 1831) – the railways were already beginning to attract the public’s attention.

Old canal warehouse, Congleton

We stopped for a few minutes in Congleton for Elaine to do a bit of shopping and to post her crossword but were soon under way again and heading through some lovely peaceful countryside and under a succession of stone built bridges.

Wilbraham's folly

With The Cloud receding behind us, Mow Cop began to dominate the view ahead. We have a soft spot for Mow Cop – not just its eye-catching folly (built by Squire Ralph Wilbraham so it could be seen from his house, Rode Hall), nor its history (the Primitive Methodists held their first meeting at its summit) but mainly the fact that it can be seen from virtually anywhere on the Trent & Mersey from Kidsgrove to Preston Brook and also the Shropshire Union Canal as well.


Mooring at Bridge 86, near Kent Green

We had planned to stop near bridge 86; a mile or so shy of Kent Green and were delighted to find a space just made for us. We have stopped here before and it is a nice quiet mooring with rings. The first time we stopped here we set off to climb Mow Cop – yes honestly! It was dry and sunny when we started, but by the time we reached the summit, gasping and doubled over, the rain was horizontal and the clouds covered the top. We couldn’t see a thing!

Tomorrow we actually complete the Cheshire Ring! We will reach Harding’s Wood Junction and turn south early tomorrow morning, having passed the opposite way just over 3 months ago. Do we get a prize for the longest time to complete the Ring?